Suicide By Lion: Man Attempts To Kill Himself By Jumping In Lion Cage And Stripping

Two lions lost their lives in order to save a human that wanted to end his.

A lot of animals die because of human stupidity. Even animals inside zoos—where they are supposed to be safe—are being shot dead because of one stupid human act. We have to learn that these are actually huge losses.

After seeing Harambe’s tragedy, this tragic story has once again surfaced on the internet. Almost a year ago, two lions at a Chilean zoo were killed in order to save a man who wanted to take his own life by jumping into a lion enclosure.

The young man broke into the enclosure, took off his clothes and jumped into the middle, horrifying other visitors who witnessed the attack—including children who were there to enjoy looking at animals.

20-year-old Franco Luis Ferrada Roman attracted the lions, who played with him at first. The giant cats then started mauling him. While the lions attacked him, he started shouting religious things.

Cynthia Vasquez, a witness to the incident, said: “He entered the enclosure from above and the lions started to play with him, and then after they attacked him and was shouting things about Jesus.”

Another witness added: “There were a lot of children there, and parents covered their eyes while it was going on. He was screaming religious things.”

Sadly, two lions had to be ‘taken down’ to save the man. He was saved indeed, but two lions lost their lives in the tragic incident.

According to Alejandra Montalva, the zoo the director, she said:

“We believe that this person entered as a visitor and paid for his ticket. Later he trespassed into an area where the public are not normally allowed and we understand that he forced the roof of the lion’s enclosure. It was from there that he jumped, took off his clothes and started to attract the lions.

“The zoo has an established protocol because people’s lives are very important to us. But that there were no fast-acting tranquilizers available to stop the lions from mauling the man.”

It was later known that the man intended to commit suicide. Metropolitan Park director Mauricio Fabry confirmed that a suicide note was found in the man’s clothing.